Anti-spill filling hose nozzle



Aug. 8, 1967 H. F. GARRISON ANTI-SPILL FILLING HOSE NOZZLE Filed June24, 1965 FIGI INVENTOR HARRY E GARRISON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O3,334,821 ANTI-SPILL FILLING HOSE NOZZLE Harry F. Garrison, 7470 Gerald,Warren, Mich. 48092 Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No. 466,765 Claims. (Cl.239589) This invention relates to nozzles and, in particular, to hosenozzles.

Hitherto, filling hose nozzles for transferring liquids from tank trucksor tank cars into tanks have been subject to the disadvantage ofspilling liquid around the tank filling spout as a result of overflow ofthe liquid when the tank has become filled with liquid. Variousautomatic shutoff devices have been devised but none has been entirelysatisfactory as regards spill prevention and such nozzles have still hadto be watched by the operator. The present invention provides ananti-spill filling hose nozzle for transferring liquids from tankvehicles to tanks, which takes advantage of the presence of the bubbleson the top surface of the liquid in the tank to give ample warning ofthe complete filling of the tank so that liquid delivery can be haltedbefore overflow occurs.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an anti-spillfilling hose nozzle for liquid tanks wherein the nozzle has a windowthrough which the bubbles on the rising top surface of the liquid in thetank can be seen in ample time to stop the flow of liquid through thenozzle into the tank and thus prevent overflow and consequent spillingof the liquid and eliminating the fire hazard arising from such spilledliquid.

Another object is to provide an anti-spill filling hose nozzle of theforegoing character which additionally possesses an enlargement aroundthe forward end of the nozzle so as to cover and protect the mouth ofthe filling spout of the tank.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through an underground tank equipped witha filling spout, showing the anti-spill filling hose nozzle in theposition occupied during the filling of the tank from a tank vehicle,with the nozzle partly broken away to show the viewing window;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the nozzle of FIGURE 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows 3-3 therein, with the filling hoseomitted;

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical section through the nozzle of FIGURES 1and 2, taken along the line 3--3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the nozzle shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary central vertical section through amodification of the nozzle shown in FIGURES l to 4 inclusive; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of afurther modification of the nozzles shown in FIGURES 1 and 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGURE 1 shows diagrammatically atypical liquid storage tank installation, generally designated 10, suchas is used in gasoline filling stations and the like, while being filledwith liquid being transferred thereto from a tank vehicle (not shown)through a filling hose 12 equipped with the anti-spill filling hosenozzle 14, according to one form of the invention. The tank installationis shown diagrammatically and its details are beyond the scope of thepresent invention. The installation 10 includes an underground tank 16having a vertical filling pipe 18 welded or otherwise secured thereto asat 20 above an opening 21 in the tank 16. The tank 16 and filling pipe18 are covered with a layer 22 of a suitable material, such as concreteabove earth.

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Secured as by welding at 24 to the upper end of the filling pipe 18level with the ground or concrete surface 25 is an access fixture 26,the upper end portion of which is provided with an opening 28,preferably threaded to receive a correspondingly-threaded removableaccess plate or plug 29. The upper end 31 of the filling pipe 18 isprovided with a mouth 30 of a bore 32 through which the nozzle 14 isinserted. The tank 16 is ordinarily provided with a vent pipe (notshown) which is omitted for simplicity of showing.

The filling hose 12 is connected to the tank vehicle (not shown) in anysuitable conventional way and at its forward end is provided with aconventional coupling 34 by which the nozzle 14 is connected to the hose12. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the nozzle 14 may be connected to thecoupling 34 by a threaded hose coupling connection 36 having a collar 38and a threaded portion 40, the latter being threaded into the hosecoupling 34. The collar 38 is secured to a reduced diameter end portion42 of the upper arm or hose connection portion 44 of the nozzle 14. Theconnection at the reduced diameter portion 42 may be made by welding orbrazing if the nozzle 14 is of metal or by bonding if of syntheticrubber or synthetic plastic. A C-shaped handle 45 has its opposite endsalso welded, brazed or bonded to the opposite sides of the upper armportion 42.

Extending downwardly from and preferably integral with the forward endof the nozzle 14 is a downwardlytapered lower arm or spout portion 46,the tapered constructure of which wedges itself into and plugs theadjacent end of the filling pipe 18 to prevent overflow. Located nearthe forward end of the arm 44 of the nozzle 14 adjacent its junction 47with the lower arm or spout portion 46 and substantially in line withthe passageway through said spout portion 46 is a window 48 consistingof an opening 50 above which is a counterbore or enlarged diameterportion 52 containing a window pane 54 of transparent material, such asglass, transparent plastic, transparent crystal (such as quartz) orother material which is not attacked by the liquid being dispensed bythe nozzle 14 through its mouth 56.

The modified anti-spill filling hose nozzle, generally designated 60,shown in FIGURE 5, is substantially identical in construction to thenozzle 14 shown in FIG- URES 1 to 4 inclusive and similar parts areconsequently designated with the same reference numerals. The modifiednozzle 60, however, in addition to possessing all of the structuralfeatures of the nozzle 14, is provided with an annular flange or collar62, preferably of conical configuration, and may be either integral withthe material of the nozzle spout portion 46, as shown, or separatetherefrom. The flange or collar 62 is preferably located intermediateits mouth 56 and its junction 48 with the coupling portion 44.

The further modified anti-spill filling hose nozzle, generallydesignated 70, shown in FIGURE 6, is substantially identical with themodified nozzle 60 shown in FIG- URE 5 except that the flange or collar62 is additionally encircled by a metal clamping ring 72 whichstrengthens and stiffens the flange 62.

In the operation of any of the three nozzles 14, 60 or 70, let it beassumed that the hose 12 has been connected thereto in the usual way andhas been coupled to a tank vehicle containing a liquid, such asgasoline, diesel oil or fuel oil, to be transferred to the tank 16 ofthe underground installation 10. To do so, the operator first removesthe access plate 29 by means of a suitable wrench or spanner and theninserts the spout portion 46 into the mouth 30 of the filling pipe 18.He then opens the valve (not shown) which permits liquid to flow fromthe tank vehicle through the hose 12 and nozzle 14 out of the mouth 56thereof through the filling pipe 18 into the tank 16. As the filling ofthe tank 16 proceeds, the liquid level therein rises, and the splashingof the liquid into the tank causes bubbles to be formed on the surfaceof the liquid. When the liquid level reaches the top of the tank 16 atthe hole 21, it rises in the filling pipe 18, preceded by the bubbles onits surface.

. Meanwhile, the operator has been looking through the transparentwindow 54 down through the spout portion 46 of the nozzle 14 toward themouth 56 thereof. As soon as he observes the bubbles on the surface ofthe liquid rising in the filling pipe 18, he eloses the valve andthereby shuts off the flow of liquid through the hose 12 and nozzle 14into the filling pipe 18. In this manner, he prevents overflow andconsequent spilling of the liquid on the ground or concrete surface 25around the access opening 28. As a result, the fire hazard from spilledliquid is eliminated.

The operation of the modified nozzles 60 and 70 of FIGURES S and 6respectively is the same as that described above, and differs only bythe fact that the collar or flange 62 rests upon the upper end 31 of thefilling pipe 18, The metal ring 72 of the nozzle 70 additionallystrengthens the collar or flange 62 and adds to its rigidity.

What I claim is: 1. An anti-spill filling hose nozzle for filling liquidtanks from a tank vehicle, said nozzle comprising ahollow nozzle bodyhaving a hose connection portion and a spout portion connected to saidhose connection portion at a junction therebetween and having a liquidoutlet mouth remote from said junction,

said spout portion being disposed at an angle to said hose connectionportion adjacent said junction and extending downwardly from saidjunction, a hose coupling connection secured to said hose connectionportion, said nozzle body having a liquid passageway extendingtherethrough from said coupling connection to said mouth,

4 and a transparent window disposed in one of said portions above saidmouth and substantially in line with and in sight of that part of saidpassageway within said spout portion.

2. An anti-spill filling hose nozzle, according to claim 1, wherein saidwindow is disposed in said hose connection portion adjacent saidjunction of said hose connection portion with said spout portion andsubstantially perpendicular to said spout portion.

3. An anti-spill filling hose nozzle, according to claim 2, wherein saidwindow is disposed on the upper side of said hose connection portionabove said-spout portion.

4. An anti-spill filling hose nozzle, according to claim 1, wherein saidwindow includes an opening disposed in the upper side of said hoseconnection portion above said spout portion and a transparent windowpane disposed in said opening.

5. An anti-spill filling hose nozzle, according to claim 1, wherein theupper part of said spout portion of said nozzle body adjacent saidjunction is of larger diameter than the tank inlet and is tapereddownward toward the mouth of said spout portion, whereby to plug thetank inlet and prevent overflow therefrom during filling of the tank bysaid nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,618,486 2/1927 Sklovsky 239-742,231,907 2/1941 Harris 1419 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 742,668 12/1955 GreatBritain.

V. M. WIGMAN, Assistant Examiner.

M. HENSQN WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner:

1. AN ANTI-SPILL FILLING HOSE NOZZLE FOR FILLING LIQUID TANKS FROM ATANK VEHICLE, SAID NOZZLE COMPRISING A HOLLOW NOZZLE BODY HAVING A HOSECONNECTING PORTION AND A SPOUT PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID HORSECONNECTION PORTION AT A JUNCTION THEREBETWEEN AND HAVING A LIQUID OUTLETMOUTH REMOTE FROM SAID JUNCTION, SAID SPOUT PORTION BEING DISPOSED AT ANANGLE TO SAID HOSE CONNECTION PORTION ADJACENT SAID JUNCTION ANDEXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID JUNCTION, A HOSE COUPLING CONNECTIONSECURED TO SAID HOSE CONNECTING PORTION, SAID NOZZLE BODY HAVING ALIQUID PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH FROM SAID COUPLING CONNECTINGTO SAID MOUTH, AND A TRANSPARENT WINDOW DISPOSED IN ONE OF SAID PORTIONSABOVE SAID MOUTH AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN LINE WITH AND IN SIGHT OF THATPART OF SAID PASSAGEWAY WITHIN SAID SPOUT PORTION.